It was a love affair on Valentines day at the Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri when Heartland Queens got the better side of their visitors Adamawa Queens in 3-0 drubbing in the NWFL Premiership matchday 8 clash amidst goal festivals.
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Recall that the Owerri team had initially lost 1-2 to the Yola-based topflights in the first fixture clash in Gombe on Wednesday, January 10.
And true to their pre-match vows to even scores with the guests, immediately the whistle went off signalling the commencement of the clash, the Owerri mainstreams poured in numbers into the opponents vital areas in search for an early lead.
The Owerri landladies kept the visitors in their half and as a measure of the intense pressure they were having free kicks, corners and throws in droves but not yet celebrations.
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The first begging chance at goal came in the 23rd minute but on the field captain, Chimebere Opara could not connect a well laid pass from the conjurewoman, Mary Lucky.
The side’s talisman, Lucky tried a solo effort to conjure the much sought after opening goal but missed target by inches.
Almost like the Owerri side’s netminder, Uchenna Chukwu in all this while was practically on a well deserved valentine holiday.
The tormentor-in-chief, Lucky continued her endless and vicious raids and in a hapless and desperate attempt to hold her down she was hacked down in the box and the resultant spot kick was well converted by defender, Chinyere Iheoma in the 40th minutes to give her side a moment of respite.
A very glaring and simple tap in test to make it two before the break was sorely missed by Oluchi Okwara from Chimebere Opara’s grounder.
Onyinyechi Kalu, who scored the match opener in Gombe was on hand again to head in the second goal beyond the reach of hapless goalie for Adamawa Queens, Fatima Oloko in the 56th minutes. Lucky, once again, provided the assist as previously.
Oloko who took more heat than she bargained for in the almost one sided encounter was treated severally on the turf in both halves.
The Owerri side’s gaffer, Obi Ogbala brought in the duo, Chinedu Chinaka and Chinwendu Orji to take the places of the number two goal scorer, Kalu and debutant, Yetunde Anyantosho to press for more goals.
Few minutes later the trio, Nwabueze Charles, Mary Okorie and another debutant, Joy Anthony were thrown into the fray in places of Oluchi Ofoegbu, Oluchi Okwara and Onyedikachi Ekezie.
The Owerri side had a spot kick opportunity to increase the goal tally to three but the chance was wasted as substitute, Chinwendu Orji’s kick hit the upright and dropped on the turf right before her to hit the back of the net but the centre referee adjudged her to be offside.
Two minutes later substitute, Chinedu Chinaka was to make amend for Orji’s misses as she hits the back net with a ferocious shot that beats Adamawa Queens’ shot stopper in the 78th minutes, Oloko hands down for her side’s third and winning goal. Lucky, too had a hand in the goal as she provided all the assists that led to the three goals on match day.
The hard-fought victory has taken Heartland Queens’ points haul to 14 from possible 24 and still atop of the eight-team Group A log with stiff challenges coming from former champions, Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens and Abia Angels.
Lucky Mary was named the Woman of the match for her beautiful display and torment on the visitors defence which resulted into the 3 assist.
Heartland Queens will be the guests of the Oil City side, Royal Queens in Sapele on Wednesday, February 21 for the NWFL Premiership matchday 9 clash.
